Buddhism and Abortion

Abortion is arguably the most controversial and divisive moral issue for modern times. For the past three decades, arguments both for and against abortion have been mounted by groups of all kind, from religious fundamentalists to radical feminists and every shade of opinion in between. As Buddhism continues to engage the attention of the West, the time is now opportune for its views on abortion to be heard.

Readers who approach abortion from the discipline of Buddhist Studies will find this book helpful as an introduction to the particular ethical issues raised by abortion. Ethicists and others already familiar with the facts, statistics, and arguments surrounding the abortion debate will find that the book provides useful comparative material. For the latter group, it will also serve as an introduction to Buddhism, since several of the chapters contain explanatory material by way of a prologue to the main discussion. Area studies focusing on Thailand, Japan, and Korea are followed by chapters concerned with determining or establishing normative positions based on textual and other evidence.